AN ICONIC COLLEGE VIEW: "LAFAYETTE COLLEGE" RUMMELL, RICHARD (1848-1924)
Lafayette College
Richard Rummell
Restrike engraving from the original plate (c.1913)
Printed on heavy woven paper and hand colored
Plate Size: 17 x 29 ¼
At the turn of the century, the accomplished landscape artist Richard Rummell (1848-1924) painted a panoramic bird’s-eye view watercolor of Lafayette College. In this selection of paintings of American colleges and universities, Rummell selected the twenty best colleges in the nation at the time of painting. His inclusion of these universities in his oeuvre indicates his immense respect for these institutions. From this watercolor, a copper-plate was engraved and a limited number of pulls (engravings) were distributed. Today, Arader Galleries owns the collection of copper plates used for engraving and watercolors. Using the original process and 100 year old original plates, Arader is proudly re-striking and making the beautiful college view available for acquisition the same way it was 100 years ago.
Easton, Pennsylvania was one of the most crucial sites throughout the Revolutionary War, largely due to its geographic location at the connection of the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers. Long after the conclusion of the war, Easton remained proud of the accomplishments of the early Americans. As Northampton County Deputy Attorney General James Madison Porter lived in Easton, he traveled to visit Marquis de Lafayette in Philadelphia. Lafayette recalled Porter’s father, who had served with him at the Battle of Brandywine. As Porter traveled to several colleges in the northeast, he hoped to start a college back home in Easton. Owing to the revolutionary spirit, the name of Lafayette College seemed only fit.
Classes would begin in 1832 after Lafayette College was chartered in 1826. The early courses in classics and math would take place in a farmhouse. With the expansion of the campus came the expansion of its academic departments. By 1866, Lafayette College would include programs in chemistry, civil engineering, and mining engineering. To this day, the College’s reputation for the liberal arts and engineers is what truly distinguishes the Easton school.
Rummell is likely painting from the intersection of McCartney Street and College Avenue. Lafayette College has changed in many ways since his painting, which makes this piece particularly unique. It offers an unbeknownst glimpse of the university at the turn of the century. Special detail is given to Pardee Hall (finished in 1873). It is named for Ario Pardee, whose donations enabled Lafayette College to start their first science departments. It would long serve as the home for these departments, although now the humanities and social studies departments reside in this building. To the left, South College (finished in 1833) overlooks the campus. This is Lafayette College’s first building on campus.
With Rummell’s immense detail of the campus in a historic form, this is a unique piece for any alumni of Lafayette College.
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